Radiography Overview

Are you interested in a career that is in-demand? Check out our radiography field. A Radiologic Technologist can play an important role on the patient care team. Find out how you can earn an Associate of Applied Science Degree in Health Science – Medical Radiography in 18 months.

Employment of radiologic technologists is expected to increase by about 9 percent from 2014 to 2024, faster than the average for all occupations. As the population grows and ages, demand for diagnostic imaging is projected to increase.*

In addition to job growth, job openings are also expected to arise from the need to replace technologists who leave the occupation.*

Physical Demand Requirements

Students seeking admission into the Medical Radiography Program are advised that their course of study will include classroom education, hands-on practical skills and clinical experiences. Students making the decision to enter into this program should be aware of the physical nature of both the profession and their course of study. While the profession of Radiography may be performed in a variety of settings, each with specific physical demand requirements, students must be able to demonstrate a wide range of skills that may be performed in a variety of settings to successfully complete the program.

Applicants to the program must be aware that they must possess the following abilities required of Radiography students and Radiographers.

Physical

VISION: Ability to read and analyze data, formulate technical factors, evaluate the technical results, and observe patient conditions. Ability to perform all the radiographic procedures expected of a Radiography student.

HEARING: Ability to hear instructions in a variety of situations, such as a darkened x-ray room, trauma room in the emergency department, and surgery; where the persons may not be facing you or they may be wearing surgical masks. Patients who are sick, inured, elderly, and in other weakened conditions sometimes have difficulty in communicating; therefore, it is important to be able to hear them with accuracy.

MOTOR SKILLS: Above average hand/eye coordination and other basic motor skills are essential. Ability to lift, move and support patients. Ability to operate various x-ray equipment which may involve lifting, pulling, pushing, etc., such as with portable machines. Ability to stand/walk for extended periods of time, as well as bending twisting and reaching.

Radiography professionals are in demand* throughout the United States in a variety of healthcare settings and industries including:

Hospitals & Medical Imaging Centers

Outpatient Care Centers & Primary Care Clinics

Government & Military

Medical Research

Mobile Imaging

Radiology Sales & Service

Education & Industry

At both the Newport News and Northern Virginia (Manassas), VA campuses: Graduates will receive an Associate of Applied Science Degree in Health Science – Medical Radiography and will be eligible to sit for the national certification examination with the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT).

At the Newport News and Northern Virginia (Manassas), VA campuses, the Medical Radiography program is accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (JRCERT).

Students actively participate in learning experiences during clinical training.

Important information about the educational debt, earnings, and completion rates of students who attended this program can be found by clicking here. View Mission, Goals, and Program Effectiveness Data.JRCERT provides five-year average credentialing examination pass rate, five-year average job placement rate, and program completion rate data found at www.jrcert.org.